Gate for railroad-crossings.



PATENTED was, 1904.

J. n. YOUNG. GATE FOR RAILROAD cnossmes.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 9, 1902..

a sums-sum 1.

INVENTOR. 1!

N0 MODEL.

WITNESSES: w, fiIQZQwwzM a ""7 4444. Attamey PATENTEB AUG. 9, 1904.

.7. n. YOUNG. v GATE FOR RAILROAD cnossmas.

APPLIUATIOH FILED JULY 9, 1902.

2 SHEETS-BEBE! .3.

H0 MODEL.

:{IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII/ll) 6 Q van-5% ll dl ZllllllllllIlIlIu-i [Till/1111271 '(III/lI/IIII No. 766,923. Patented August 9, 190 1.,

Nira STATES PATENT OFFICE.

I JEFFERSON D. YOUNG, OF AVOCA, IOTVA.

GATE FOR RAlLROAD- CHOQEWNGES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 766,923, dated August 9, 1904.

' Application filed July 9, 1902. Serial No. 114,890- (No model.)

To (ti/Z whom it may concern: Fig. 6; The two railsA andA are supported 5 Be it known that I, JEFFERSON 1). YOUNG, by the usual ties a.

residing at Avoca, in the county of Potta- The posts F F extend into the earth asuit- Wattamie and State of Iowa, have invented eerable distance and above are slotted, as is shown tain useful Improvements in Gates for Railat '2; in Fig. 6, so as to form seats, within road Crossings; and I do hereby declare that which are held. the gate-bars l) I). These 55 the following is a full, clear, and exact degate-bars are each secured to a shaft 16 or scription of the invention,such as will enable 16, as is shown in Figs. 3 and 6, provided others skilled in the art to whichit appertains with an enlarged head 17 or 17, so that each I0 to make and use the same, reference beinghad gate-bar is held upon a rock-shaft, so that to the accompanying drawings, which form these gates may be swung upward and down- 60 a part of this specification. ward. In alinement with each gatepost, as

This invention relates to a new and useful is shown in Fig. 1, is a gate-supporting post, improvement in gates for railway-crossings. a detail of one of which is shown in Fig. 1,

5 The object 01'' my invention is to provide a each supporting-post being provided with the railroad-gate which shall be simple of conseating :1, within which the end of the gate- 5 struction and so arranged that the gate will bar in alinel'nent therewith is held when the be automatically opened and closed upon the gate is closed. In Fig. 8 the gate-bar D is approach of a train or locomotive, and the shown as resting withinitssupporting-post1E.

2O gate is so constructed that in case it should Each gate-bar .l) or 1) is provided with a close upon a wagon or other obstruction it counterweight or 20 to counterbalance the 7 will rest upon the same under spring tension, gate-bar, so that the same may be freely so that the obstruction may be removed, perrocked or tilted in opening or closing the gate. mitting the closing of the gate. Between the rails A A a suitable distance 5 In the accompanying drawingsl have shown from the gate-posts F F are the guard-plates in Figure 1 a top view with portions broken 1 1, (shown in top view in Fig. 1 and side 75 away of a railroad-gate embodying my in view in Fig. 8,) and these guard-plates, it will vention. Fig. 2 shows a detail of the releasbe noticed, are approximately semicircular ing mechanism as used in my invention. and are secured by any suitable means to two 3 Figs. 3and 6 show enlarged details of the adjacent ties (6, as disclosed.

gate-posts. Fig. t shows a detail of one of Adjacent each guard-plate is held a slotted the gate-supports. Fig. 5 shows a detached bracket 4L or 1-, which are secured to the ties detail of one of the striker-bars as used in my and are approximately semicircular, as disinvention. Fig. 7 shows one of the slotted closed in Fig. 7.

brackets as used in my invention. Fig. 8 Working upon suitable pins tor I), as is shows a side elevation with portions removed shown in Fig. 1 and below the rail A, are the 5 of my gate, while Fig. 9 discloses a perspecspring-held striker bars 3 3', which extend tive view disclosing one of the wedges. through the slotted bracketsda, respectively,

As has been set forth, the aim oi my ineach striker-bar being provided with an up- 4 vention is to provide a railroad-crossing gate wardly-extemling head, as isdisclosed in Fig.

so constructed that the same will be auto- 5, where an elevation or side view of one of 9 matically operated by a locomotive to open these striker-bars is disclosed. in Fig. 7 l. and close the same. have shown a front view oi one of the slotted In carrying out the aim of my invention 1 brackets disclosing the slot 2, through which provide two gates upon opposite sides of the the adjacent bar extends.

railway, as shown in top view in Fig. 1, which The heads 2 2 of the striker-bars in their gates are exactly the same in construction normal position are adjacent to their respecand comprise the posts F F, one of which is tive guard-plates 1 1, as shown in Fig. 1. shown in detail in Fig. 3 and the other in Pressing against the end of each strikerbar 3 or 3 is a coil-spring 6 or 6, suitably se cured to a lug 5 or 5, so that these strikerbars 3 and 3 are normally held at right angles to the rails, as is disclosed in Fig. 1.

Extending from the striker-bar 3 and passing over a suitable pulley 51, as is disclosed in Fig. 6, is the strand or rope 7, which continues upward and is secured to the head 17, while extending from the striker-bar 3 and passing over a counterpart pulley 50 and also secured to the head 17, as is shown in Figs. 1 and 6, is a second strand 18, these strands being so adjusted that the two connected strikerbars 3 and 3 are normally held parallel to one another, as is disclosed in Fig. 1,the springs 6 6 working each against one of the striker-bars, so that these striker-bars 3 3 cannot be actuated without operating against one of said springs.

Normally the gate-bars D D are held in an approximately vertical position, as is disclosed in dotted lines in Fig. 8, by virtue of the weights 2O 20. \Vhen these gate-bars D D are in a vertical position, the points at which the strands 7 and 18 are secured to the head 17 are at an angle of ninety degrees to a plane passing horizontally through these gate-bars, so that to draw on these strands 7 and 18 will rotate the head 17 in the path of an arc of ninety degrees, and so carry the gatebar D from a vertical to ahorizontalposition. In Fig. 6 one of the strands has been operated to draw down the head 17. From this it will be seen that these striker-bars 3 and 3 are held under spring tension and when actuated rock the shaft 16 to operate the gatebar D.

The gate-post F has been described as being provided with a counterpart gate-bar D, counterpoised by means of the weights 20 and supported upon the shafts 16, provided with the head 17, a detail of which is shown in Fig. 3, and from this head 17 extend the two strands 12 and 14:, provided, respectively, with the coil-springs 41 and 13, secured in turn to the strand-sections 9 and 8, these in turn being secured to the strands 18 and 7, as is disclosed in Fig. l. directed to the right and left before being secured to the strands 7 and 18 and work over pulleys 38 and 39, so that any movement imparted'to the strand 18 or 7 by means of the striker-bars 3 or 3 is imparted to the strand 42 or 44, and consequently actuates the gatebar D, this transmission of power being accomplished by securing to the head 17 the strands 1 1 and 12, as is disclosed in Fig. 3, so that when the gate-bar D, secured to the shaft 16, is approximately in a vertical position the strands 12 and 14: are approximately also at a point ninety degrees from a plane passing horizontallythrough the head '17, so that when the gate-bar D is actuated the counterpart gate-bar D will be correspondingly ac- These strands 8 and 9 are.

tuated. The strands 42 and 14 pass over suitable pulleys 7, as shown in Fig. 3.

At suitable points strands? and 18 have secured to them wedges 8 and 19, an end View of the wedge 8, being shown in Fig. 2, these wedges being secured by any suitable means. In order to guide the strand 7, I provide at a suitable point a staple 9, which also acts as a stop for the wedge 8, which is adapted to Work against said staple 9.

In connection with my gate I use two similar locking-clogs (l C, adapted to ride upon and against the larger end of the wedges 8 and 19, respectively. As these dogs C C are similar in construction, the description of one will be sufiicient for the other. Inv referring to Fig. 2 the dog 0 is shown as mounted upon a pin 10, held within a block 11, and from one end of this dog extends a strand 6, secured upon opposite sides to the head f of the rock-shaft 21, which is provided with an operating-head 12 and is adapted to rock from side to side. The shafts 21 21 are supported within suitable bearings g g adjacent to the rail A, as shown. The bottoms of these dogs 0 C slide upon the wedges 8 and 19, respectively. The heads 12 12 of the rock-shafts 21 21 are held within similar guide plates 13 14 and 13 1e, as shown in Figs. 1 and 8, so that anything trailingbelow the cars will not interfere with these heads.

It will be noticed that the locking-dogsC C are heavier upon one side of the pin 10 than upon the other, which insures their being normally in engagement with their respective wedges. Suitable pins 25, as shown in Fig. 2, are employed to guide the dogs C C.

In Fig. 8 the position of the guard-plates 1 1, the rock-shafts 21 21, and the striker-bars 3 and 3 is shown, the gate-bars D D being disclosed in a closed position.

When all the instrumentalities have been properly constructed, the operation of my device is as follows: The gate-bars D D are normally in an approximately vertical position. In this condition the striker-bars 3 and 3 are in a horizontal position at right angles to the rails, as shown in Fig. 1. Now as the engine or train approaches a lug or other projection which is fixed to the cow-catcher or any other suitable part of the locomotive and is held in the path of the heads 2 2 and 12 12 strikes and engages the head 2, we will assume, of the striker-bar 3, which will result in drawing the strand 18 toward the spring 6, the strikerbar 3 operating against said spring 6. As the strand 18 is drawn by the striker-bar 3, the head 17 will be revolved ninety degrees to allow the downward swing of the gate-bar D. As this strand 18 is pulled toward the spring 6 a corresponding movement is imparted to the strand 12 to actuate the head 17 and close the gate-bar D, which is also carried downward, the end of each gate-bar resting within ceases its supporting-post. If desired, a spring can be interposed at a suitable. point within the strand 18. Now unless the strand 18 is secured while the gate-bars I) I) are down these gate-bars will of course instantly fly upward again, and in order to hold'these gate-bars in proper position fora suitable length of time I employ the wedges 8 and 19. In the instance just described the wedge 19 was withdrawn from below the dog C and locked to hold the gate in a horizontal position, the dog C resting against the largest end of the wedge 19, as shown Fig. 1. As the locomotive or train advances the same projection that first struck the head 2 w ill strike the head 12' upon the rock-shaft 21 to wind up the strand 0, tilting the head C upward and permitting the wedge 19 to escape, so that the gates again assume their vertical position. The same projection will eventually engage the head 12 and 2, but will simply operate these instrumentalities without actuating the gate, as the striker-bar 3 will then be tilted toward the strand 7. If, however, the train appreached to first engage the striker-bar 3, the instrumentalities will be actuated from that side in the manner just described. In Fig. l the gates are shown having been closed by an engine striking the bar 3, locking the gatebars in the manner set forth.

It is of course understood that the rock shafts 21 and 21 can be placed at any suitable point adjacent the gate-posts F F, so that the gate-bars will rise immediatelyafter the train has passed. The striker -bars 3 3 are of course placeda suitable distance away from the gates, so that they will be closed a suitable time before the train approaches the cross ing.

Having thus described my said invention, what I. claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent, is

1. In a railroad-crossing gate, the combination with a suitably-supported swinging gatebar, a shaft to hold said gate-bar, a strand partial 1y wound about said shaft, a pivoted strikerbar, said strand being secured to said strikerbar, a spring to hold said striker-bar in a suitable position, a wedge secured to aforesaid strand, a pivotally-supported dog adapted to work upon said wedge and against one end thereof, a rock-shaft, a head projecting from said rock-shaft, and means to connect said rock-shaft to said dog.

said second gate-post, a second gatc-bar secured to said second shaft, a second strand extending from sald l'irstmentioned strand and partially winding about said second-mentioned shaft, a dog adapted to work upon said wedge and against one end thereof, a rock-shaft, and means to connect said dog to said rockshaft, as and for the purpose set forth.

In a railroad-crossing gate, the combination with a suitable gate-post, of a shaft secured to said gate-post, a gate-bar secured to said shaft, a strand partially working about said shaft and extending in one direction, a pivoted striker-bar secured at one end to said strand, a spring working against said strikerbar, a wedge secured to aforesaid strand, a second strand extending from aforesaid shaft in an opposite direction, a second wedge secured to said last-mentioned strand, a second striker-bar pivotally supported and secured to said second strand,a spring secured to said last-mentioned strand, a dog working upon and adjacent said first-mentioned wedge, a second dog working upon and adjacent said last-mentioned wedge, a rock-shaft, means to connect said rock-shaft to said first-mentioned dog, a second rock-shaft, means to connect said second rock-shaft to said second-mentioned dog, a second gate-post, a shaft working within said second gate-post, a gate-bar secured to said last-mentioned shaft, and two strands extending from said last-mentioned shaft one end being secured to said first-mentioned strand extending in one direction, and the second strand being secured to said second-mentioned strand, extending in the opposite direction, said instrumentalities being arranged to operate substantially as and for the purpose set forth. I

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JEFFERSON D. YOUNG.

-Witnesses:

L. L. (-l-nnnuu, FRANK. TRUE.

IOO 

